To prepare the rice farmers for the wet season, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program recently distributed over 1,400 sacks of certified inbred seeds in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur.
This distribution is part of the province’s broader allocation of more than 80,000 sacks.
Spearheaded by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Midsayap, a program briefing was recently conducted alongside the kick-off ceremony of seed distribution to familiarize the rice farmers with RCEF components, which also include training, credit, and mechanization.
Farmer Felicidad S. Batac shared her experience with the program.
“Before, I could only produce 3.9-4.4t/ha, now I am harvesting up to 5-5.5t/ha,” she said, adding that 40kg of certified inbred seeds is already enough for 1ha.
PhilRice Midsayap has allocated more than 450,000 sacks of certified inbred seeds for Regions 9, 12, and BARMM.
Similar activities are slated for Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Zamboanga del Norte in May.
